Prevent Cancer blog carnival: Who do you prevent cancer for?

It is my immense pleasure to welcome you to the first ever Prevent Cancer blog carnival! Pull up your digital chair and take a seat – our writing advocates’ stories are educational, heartbreaking, sometimes humorous and always inspiring.

Before I pass along the “mic,” I’d like to thank the thirteen lovely writers who shared their experiences with open and honest hearts.

“Cancer survivors are often portrayed as heroic, doomed, sweet, patient and forbearing. I was none of these things: when I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer and told I had a 40% chance of living five years, I was not heroic; nor was I afraid. I had a two-year-old son and a six-month-old daughter. I was furious.” For my family by Dr. Michelle Jones

“I remembered the belated birthday card I had received from my Uncle earlier that afternoon. He wrote, ‘You are following the family tradition of finishing your undergraduate studies and then moving far away from home. Your parents did it, your Aunt Izumi did it, and now it is your turn.’” For my Aunt Izumi by Sarah Hayashi, student at Royal College of Music

“I fight cancer to help eradicate its rude bullying that steals the innocence of life right out of you. I fight to prevent cancer because it is an intrusion. I fight cancer because it is unnecessary, and there are so many other things that deserve our attention.” Because I care by Dr. Robin B. Dilley